Days after the surprising announcement that seven previous Entertainer of the Year winners will be performing on the 50th Annual CMA Awards, including Charley Pride, George Strait, Vince Gill, Alan Jackson, Brooks & Dunn, Alabama, and Reba McEntire, the CMA’s announced Wednesday afternoon that another crop of traditional country stars will be performing on the presentation.

As the Country Music Association clearly labors to reach out to not just young and new country fans, but country fans of all stripes, they have added the names of country stars Charlie Daniels, Randy Travis, Ricky Skaggs, Roy Clark, Dwight Yoakam, and Clint Black to the lineup.

Also added to the list is Entertainer of the Year nominee Chris Stapleton, multi-CMA winner Martina McBride, Jennifer Nettles, Elle King, and (gulp) Thomas Rhett and Jason Aldean.

What is still to be determined is if these past legends of country—which in many cases have been summarily abandoned by institutions like the CMA Awards in recent years—will get opportunities to perform full songs, or if it will be more of a collaborative or medley performance, pairing songs and/or artists together to save precious performance time.

Regardless, the amount of older talent announced on the presentation so far is quite unprecedented. According to Saving Country Music’s calculations, of the announced performers so far, 16 performers who could be considered either country legends or artists whose careers started before or during the “Class of ’89, and 17 performers who would be considered new or contemporary artists. When you also factor in that newer artists like Chris Stapleton and Kacey Musgraves also appeal to many older country fans, it’s just about a push between the old and new being presented on the awards.

Compare this with the 50th Annual ACM Awards earlier in 2016 that only had one country legend, Dolly Parton, and one older contemporary performer, Tim McGraw.

Curiously missing so far are Blake Shelton and 4-time CMA Entertainer of the Year Kenny Chesney, as well as older living legends such as Willie Nelson and Dolly Parton. But these names could be forthcoming from the CMA.

I read the title, and raced to the comments section to remind everyone of the “tributes” to Charley Pride and Merle Haggard that were just photos set to tractor rap.
To remind everyone of how Blake Shelton called us all old farts.

But I saw Roy Clark on the list.

Roy Clark was one of the biggest heroes to me as a kid. maybe still is.
He’s talented, funny, and just seemed like a great guy.

I’m going to watch.

Yes. I, Fuzzy Beefaroni TwoShirts, the staunchest traditionalist in Country Music and one of the least forgiving when he’s slighted, will watch an awards show.

Glen Campbell and Mel Tillis are both suffering from major health issues, and so might be Loretta Lynn who is recovering from recent surgery. Barbara Mandrell is officially retired, and Hank Jr.’s already played his 8 shows this year. I still expect Willie Nelson and Dolly Parton to show up due to their participation in the CMA’s “Forever Country,” medley, but we’ll see.

Yeah, I was mostly thinking of them appearing for a photo op or something with Campbell being certainly out and the others you mentioned being question marks. A ceremony featuring all of the living EOTY winners would be pretty cool even if they are unable to perform.

Dolly is receiving the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award, so she should be there to accept and all past recipients have performed. I think they confirmed that in a press release last month. I believe that is why Pentatonix + Jennifer Nettles are involved – a tribute to Dolly.

Loretta is back on the road and a source mysteriously told in a post that fans may want to watch the CMA;s this year and that person had to be saying that about ms.Loretta.We will see.it would be a great surprise.

Since the gist of this article was the veteran artists performing I decided to draw the line at pre 2000 (approx.) winners. But they should be there too for my ceremony I would like to see. Would actually be a pretty big deal if Swift showed up for any reason.

Fair, honestly I hope that all past EOTY perform, or are somehow involved in the ceremony, leaving aside those who sadly can’t make it for health reasons. But I know some of the past winners are um, controversial, around here :p

Whatever one thinks about some of the winners I think they should be honored with the rest as they won in their own era and all of these performers were extremely successful and popular even if I don’t quite get why (looking at you Luke Bryan!).

Undoubtedly some will be part of collaborations and medleys, and some will probably be part of solo performances. Same goes for the current pop country stars. So would we rather they not invite these artists at all?

We’ve been asking for years for equality in country music for older artists. Finally, here it is.

I think they also said that we would see fewer contemporary performances this year, and instead even the younger people would be doing older songs. We’ll see how true this ends up being.

I think another group of performers will be announced Friday, I’d expect to see Kenny, and I hope Dolly on that list. Blake has to film in LA at the start of the week, and with no nominations may have just decided the cross-country flight isn’t worth it (or might still be filming).

I’d love to see Dolly, and as mentioned above the Dixie Chicks, as well.

(and really? they’ve been dating for over a year, might be time to give it a rest. and he hasn’t brought her to any country awards shows yet – just the after parties. i’m hoping miranda shows up with anderson too. you know why? bc a) it’s not my life and b) to much crap in this life to not want to see people happy)

Yawn, actually Blake frustrates me (Gwen I like). And you are entitled to your opinion, I was just pointing out facts. I hope all the past eoty perform, that includes Blake. It would be a little weird for him not to show & generally pple being dates, so it’d be normal for Gwen to be there. It would then become a story, which is ridiculous, but my opinion, silly to get angry at them for that.

Anyways I totally agree with you on Carrie, and more female performers. I try to support female artists in general & not disparage others.

I haven’t watched in the last few years. Sorry to say I missed the Stapleton performance – had to catch a video of it – but I will tune in this year. I remember seeing Charley Pride in San Antonio before he had made it – my late brother in law played in his band for many years.

Roy Clark, that’s an unexpected and much welcomed surprise dose of old school cred. Now if Margo Price and Jim Lauderdale could somehow perform and if Roy gets in a banjo solo, the Bropocalypse may be averted after all. Really hoping Charlie Pride gets to do a full number too.

Seeing as I cut my teeth on ‘Hee Haw’ as a young lad and heard each of these pioneers and legends growing up (Thanks, Dad), I’m extremely intrigued to see them and how the audience welcomes them. Trigger, do you agree that the resurgence in the traditional sound made this possible? Side note: Seeing Hank Jr., Faith Hill & Carrie Underwood perform the ‘Monday Night Football’ theme together would be something I’d watch on one of the award shows if it would come to pass.

Is it just me or does it seem that although Marty is considered a great country music historian/preservationist, seems to be respected around Nashville, is married to country/Opry royalty, and is very talented himself, that he gets overlooked by the CMA crowd? Given his age and knowledge, plus his TV hosting talents, he seems like an ideal ambassador on paper for the CMAs to use to represent Nashville and country music history.

No matter how bad it’s gotten I always watch just in case something good happens. Albeit, I usually leave super disappointed, heartbroken, with dangerously high blood pressure, or depressed to the point of questioning humanity (normally all of the above). I’m cautiously optimistic about this year (although “Forever Country” and those God awful new “artists” singing old songs back to back spots are not helping, what’s with Miranda Lambert uncharacteristically being the most horrible by totally butchering “Crazy”?!). I still fear it’s all smoke in mirrors though, and that they’ll ultimately end up gaying it up somehow like with a bunch of “super groups” comprised of bonafide Legends, muddled & cheapened with the usual garbage.

I’d LOVE to see Mac Wiseman incorporated (if he’s well enough, I know he no longer tours, but was still active as of last year), as he’s one of the last stalwarts of Bluegrass and probably the only actual FOUNDER of the CMA left. Jesse McReynolds and Bobby Osborne would put a nice trifecta on paying homage to Bluegrass & it’s artists. I don’t think they can get away with a proper 50th without Loretta, especially if they’re emphasizing former Entertainers Of The Year (her being the first Female). She’s scheduled to play The Opry Tuesday, if that means anything. Not sure how Mel Tillis is doing since his problems earlier this year, but incorporating him in some way would be nice, even if it’s via Pam. Obviously I think Hank Jr should be incorporated, and not just for his sake. Maybe musicians like Leon Rhodes, Pig Robbins, Charlie McCoy, (maybe even Willie Cantu?), etc could form a for real all star house band? Now THAT would be awesome, and I’ve officially gotten carried away. Then again I wouldn’t hold it against any legit artists who have written off the CMAs given what they’ve become.

It should go without saying they’re doing something for Merle (are they?), but the same could’ve been said about Kitty Wells 4 years ago and she didn’t get so much as a mention, much less a tribute befitting THE Queen. So I guess I shouldn’t hold my breath for Jean Shepard, Joey Feek, or Ralph Stanley getting a nod, huh? Still, I’ll hope for the best……but expect the worst

I only watched last night because Loretta was shown on the show.While I would have loved for Loretta to perform or present an award,I did promise to watch the awards last night if Loretta was on.So I kept my word.Plus,I always enjoy seeing my favorite lady singer on TV when ever possible.

The first 10 minutes were great,plus seeing Garth & Trisha pay tribute to the legends were great.Alan & George were great,and the tribute to Dolly was good,as was Chris Stapelton.

country needs get back to good country music like Randy Travis, And Ricky Skaggs, And singers like the late great George Jones, You see where coming from world of country music and no more of Country rock stuff Young people that own recording company like RCA, or MCA, and the other out for all the Lengens of yester you new guys would not have job today.